27/03/2026
I wanted to share this and say that we support and stand alongside independent model shops. They are the lifeblood and the front window of the hobby 🙌
Whether they're at shows or providing the community a space on the high street, they make the hobby go round and round (or end to end, no judgement).
Whilst we are online only (for now!), over recent months we have had several productive discussions with various bricks & mortar businesses about collaborating in various ways. More on that to come and not today's topic, but now is the time to go out and get some in real life models!
— Elliot & Team UMR
PUBLIC STATEMENT
One Industry, One Message:
Now is the time to back Independent Retailers.
The model railway industry, though small and sometimes challenged, has consistently adapted and evolved. It has withstood world wars, global recessions, and pandemics. While famous brands have come and gone, the core strength remains: the independent model shop, a sector recognised as the most vital component by those who understand the industry best.
Our industry is special because its retail foundation is built almost entirely on independent British businesses. These shops, spread across the nation, serve the community both online and through unique, essential physical retail spaces.
Independent model shops are the lifeblood of the model railway community. We value the crucial relationships between manufacturers, retailers, and customers. We are more than just a place to buy products; we are essential hubs of knowledge and face-to-face support, all driven by a shared, deep-seated passion.
We face the common pressures of all UK businesses, compounded by new challenges like market disruption and restrictions on product availability.
For years, retailers have been instrumental in building brands by:
Showcasing products to both seasoned modellers and newcomers.
Providing crucial expert advice and comprehensive after-sales support.
Actively supporting and attending industry events, exhibitions, and trade shows.
Fostering the powerful sense of community that defines this special hobby.
Partnering to launch new products that might otherwise never have been developed.
Our industry is a delicate ecosystem. Like the environment we inhabit, every element is essential. Remove key components, and the system collapses - it withers and dies because its custodians failed to protect it. Imagine a hobby with no visibility: no shops, no exhibitions, and no clubs - where everything is conducted in isolation online. That’s not what we want for the future - do you?
We are unwavering in our commitment to offering the extensive range of products needed to sustain this hobby in a positive and responsible way. If the hobby is to survive into the future it can only be done through collaboration. Our message is simple - keep modelling small, but make our hobby bigger!
You have a choice as to where to shop and we urge you to choose your independent retailers.
